A little splash of rain overnight soaks into the dry cracked clay and invigorates a carpet of green to race up towards toward the sunlight. Nettles and Willowherb compete for space, unfurling fronds of Harts Tongue Fern, against the straight Horsetail spikes which now spread their feathers wide.
Bird song echoes around the Dell with the loud ringing Wren distracting from the more delicate Robin and Blue Tit chirps. Goldfinch are gathered in Holm Oaks just before the beautiful carpet of Primrose on Caravan Terrace. Look closer to see the purple Dog Violets scattered in between.
From the bridge, I watch a Robin briefly hover like a hummingbird as cautiously it approaches a patch of Bramble. It pauses upon a Sycamore stem with a caterpillar clasped in its beak, probably wary of giving away the location of it’s nest.
Next the soft Firecrest call is heard, and calling Chiffchaff. I catch a glimpse of this bird passing through the Sycamore which is coming into leaf. Pink blossom upon the crab-apple. Fresh Lime, Hawthorn and Field Maple leaves also adding to layers of green in the landscape.
It’s bright as I head down towards Durlston Head. Sunlight reflecting from the bright whitewater which breaks on the rocks below the point. There’s some big swells rolling in from the south-westerly winds, they build upon the ebbing current and then disperse into Durlston Bay.
I turn west, following the flight of a Shag as it patrols the coast towards the Lighthouse. The strong winds add a little chaos to the flight of each of the seabirds which are now nesting along these cliffs. Sharp turns for gliding flight of each Fulmar, Guillemot rapidly beat their wings as they stay low close to the waters surface.